Forget 'The Crown', This 99%-Rated Historical Drama Is the Best Period Piece of the Century

In 2015, the BBC aired Wolf Hall, a series based on Hilary Mantel's best-selling novels about Thomas Cromwell's rise to power as an adviser to King Henry VIII.

Mark Rylance, one of Britain's greatest stage actors, played Cromwell in a way that is still considered iconic. Rather than portraying him as a shallow villain, the show reveals him to be an unexpectedly gentle man and a tragic figure, torn between his conscience and his desire to save himself.

What Is 'Wolf Hall' About?

England, 1529. The country is on the brink of disaster – if the king dies without a male heir, civil war will destroy the state. Henry VIII wants to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, but the Pope and other European monarchs oppose it.

Thomas Cromwell, the son of a blacksmith who fought in the war and became a confidant of the cardinal, managed to join the king's retinue after the cardinal's disgrace. Cromwell enters the fight for his king and his own ambitions.

Cromwell is an unusual and charismatic idealist and nihilist with a talent for solving problems. He orchestrates the royal divorce, the wedding to Anne Boleyn, the king's victory over the Church, and the severing of ties with the papacy.

Mark Rylance's Brilliant Performance as Thomas Cromwell Lies at the Heart of 'Wolf Hall'

Mark Rylance carries the series on his shoulders, and his performance is the main reason to watch Wolf Hall. His portrayal of Cromwell is exceptional – he is a true observer, examining not only his surroundings, but also himself, his actions, and his bitterness.

With just a glance, Rylance reverses the meaning of spoken text, transforming Cromwell into a three-dimensional character.

One of the most powerful scenes depicts the death of Cromwell's daughters from fever – another actor might have relied on screams and tears to build the emotional scene, but Rylance approaches it with remarkable restraint.

'Wolf Hall' Offers a New Perspective on Historical Accuracy

Wolf Hall breathes new life into the historical TV drama genre – it's rare in historical projects to experience a tense sense of the present rather than a romanticized representation of the past.

The most astonishing scene is Anne Boleyn's execution. Everyone knows how it ends, yet the sounds, the rustling, the strange charm of timelessness, and the actors' devotion to their roles restore a sense of presence.

Wolf Hall isn't afraid of long dialogues and political intrigue, yet it never loses viewers, thanks to Peter Kosminsky's brilliant direction.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Wolf Hall'?

• Wolf Hall has 99% from critics and 80% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the series has a score of 8.2/10.

Where to Watch 'Wolf Hall'?

Wolf Hall is available to stream on Netflix.